Don’t quote me on it but best I can tell would be January 31, 2013 after looking around IDNR website. Never tried ice fishing out there, just not my thing, takes too many casts to land in those holes I drill. The waterfowl dates aren’t typically an issue for me as I usually don’t get out there until late February or early March at soonest depending on ice out on some of the easy to access potholes. Was always kind of bummed that fishing access ended with September or mid October (tomorrow for 2012) and wished there was some kind of compromise that could be made to address whatever issues (safety, conflict, ???) that cause the closure. In truth I’d likely be at Lake Storey anyhow but it would be good to have the option. Best of luck out there if you get a chance. Troy

It was always said that Snake Den was paid for with funds that were to be used for purchasing hunting land. That is the reason for the fishing closing. I guess we just always accepted this reasoning. Is any of this true? I have no idea. Just the info that has been given out for years.

I want to say that the waterfowl focus and subsequent closure to fishing revolves around something called the Pittman-Robertson Act. I believe there is (or maybe was) a sign just inside the gate and to the right as you head along the interior road towards Lake McMaster that describes the legislation. May be an aspect of the funding/purchase referenced above. Beyond that, I don’t really know, just recall reading the sign a couple times years ago.